Given the quantity of chips, computers and other on-board electronics in normal cars, does "giving a jump" to someone else put you at risk of hurting your own in-car electronics dues to voltage fluctuations during said jump?
Damage from jumping someone else's battery
- Thread starter DrRoughneck
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Properly done, i just don't think so.
Hook up the cables with the donor car not running.
Start the donor car if you wish/need to( I usually don't need to, i always try with it my car off. Safer for the donor car if you don't start it). Start the car with the dead battery.
Turn off the donor car before unhooking the cables, i see little danger to the donor car.
If you hit the ends together there is some risk to the alternator of the running car with the dead battery.
Hook up the cables with the donor car not running.
Start the donor car if you wish/need to( I usually don't need to, i always try with it my car off. Safer for the donor car if you don't start it). Start the car with the dead battery.
Turn off the donor car before unhooking the cables, i see little danger to the donor car.
If you hit the ends together there is some risk to the alternator of the running car with the dead battery.
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If giving a boost or simply connecting jumper cables to your car causes electronic components on your car to malfunction, then something is not right with the car.
A lady with a toddler in the parking lot asked me for a jump late one night at work while I was driving the company Prius. She was working as a night janitor in a nearby office building. I was uncertain about possible problems so I called a friend that had an older pickup and we got her started. His battery tester appeared to indicate very low voltage, possibly a dead cell(?). It was Christmas time so I had her follow me to an AAP store and bought her a new battery and gave her the phone number of a local independent mechanic to catch up on her maintenance. She was a single mother working 2 jobs and paying for daycare that ate up a big chunk of her paycheck. It cost $300 to catch up and we split it 3 ways, the shop, the pickup driver and me. So, being concerned about jumping with a Prius led to me having a better Christmas, a much better Christmas.
Originally Posted By: KrisZ
If giving a boost or simply connecting jumper cables to your car causes electronic components on your car to malfunction, then something is not right with the car.
No, they are just making them to smart IMO
If giving a boost or simply connecting jumper cables to your car causes electronic components on your car to malfunction, then something is not right with the car.
No, they are just making them to smart IMO
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
A lady with a toddler in the parking lot asked me for a jump late one night at work while I was driving the company Prius. She was working as a night janitor in a nearby office building. I was uncertain about possible problems so I called a friend that had an older pickup and we got her started. His battery tester appeared to indicate very low voltage, possibly a dead cell(?). It was Christmas time so I had her follow me to an AAP store and bought her a new battery and gave her the phone number of a local independent mechanic to catch up on her maintenance. She was a single mother working 2 jobs and paying for daycare that ate up a big chunk of her paycheck. It cost $300 to catch up and we split it 3 ways, the shop, the pickup driver and me. So, being concerned about jumping with a Prius led to me having a better Christmas, a much better Christmas.
That's some good Karma!
A lady with a toddler in the parking lot asked me for a jump late one night at work while I was driving the company Prius. She was working as a night janitor in a nearby office building. I was uncertain about possible problems so I called a friend that had an older pickup and we got her started. His battery tester appeared to indicate very low voltage, possibly a dead cell(?). It was Christmas time so I had her follow me to an AAP store and bought her a new battery and gave her the phone number of a local independent mechanic to catch up on her maintenance. She was a single mother working 2 jobs and paying for daycare that ate up a big chunk of her paycheck. It cost $300 to catch up and we split it 3 ways, the shop, the pickup driver and me. So, being concerned about jumping with a Prius led to me having a better Christmas, a much better Christmas.
That's some good Karma!
Originally Posted By: DrRoughneck
Given the quantity of chips, computers and other on-board electronics in normal cars, does "giving a jump" to someone else put you at risk of hurting your own in-car electronics dues to voltage fluctuations during said jump?
Yes, no, and maybe
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4290818/1
Given the quantity of chips, computers and other on-board electronics in normal cars, does "giving a jump" to someone else put you at risk of hurting your own in-car electronics dues to voltage fluctuations during said jump?
Yes, no, and maybe
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4290818/1
Some police departments will not allow their officers to jump start a car with their police vehicle due to the possibility of damaging the electronics in the police vehicle.
Originally Posted By: OneEyeJack
A lady with a toddler in the parking lot asked me for a jump late one night at work while I was driving the company Prius. She was working as a night janitor in a nearby office building. I was uncertain about possible problems so I called a friend that had an older pickup and we got her started. His battery tester appeared to indicate very low voltage, possibly a dead cell(?). It was Christmas time so I had her follow me to an AAP store and bought her a new battery and gave her the phone number of a local independent mechanic to catch up on her maintenance. She was a single mother working 2 jobs and paying for daycare that ate up a big chunk of her paycheck. It cost $300 to catch up and we split it 3 ways, the shop, the pickup driver and me. So, being concerned about jumping with a Prius led to me having a better Christmas, a much better Christmas.
Good dude!!!
A lady with a toddler in the parking lot asked me for a jump late one night at work while I was driving the company Prius. She was working as a night janitor in a nearby office building. I was uncertain about possible problems so I called a friend that had an older pickup and we got her started. His battery tester appeared to indicate very low voltage, possibly a dead cell(?). It was Christmas time so I had her follow me to an AAP store and bought her a new battery and gave her the phone number of a local independent mechanic to catch up on her maintenance. She was a single mother working 2 jobs and paying for daycare that ate up a big chunk of her paycheck. It cost $300 to catch up and we split it 3 ways, the shop, the pickup driver and me. So, being concerned about jumping with a Prius led to me having a better Christmas, a much better Christmas.
Good dude!!!
Here's what I do:
Hook the batteries together as usual.
Run the donor car for a few minutes to charge up the recipient battery a little.
Turn off the donor car, but leave the batteries connected.
Start the recipient car, and take off the donor car's negative clamp as soon as it starts, then the positive.
Done.
Neither car is running while hooked up to another running car. I assume that would reduce the risk of damage to either car. And the risk of explosion is reduced because there is no sparking near the recipient battery while it's charging fast (ie when its producing a lot of hydrogen).
Hook the batteries together as usual.
Run the donor car for a few minutes to charge up the recipient battery a little.
Turn off the donor car, but leave the batteries connected.
Start the recipient car, and take off the donor car's negative clamp as soon as it starts, then the positive.
Done.
Neither car is running while hooked up to another running car. I assume that would reduce the risk of damage to either car. And the risk of explosion is reduced because there is no sparking near the recipient battery while it's charging fast (ie when its producing a lot of hydrogen).
I finished off an older battery jump starting another car with a dead short in its battery. Maybe it was due to die, but certainly a coincidence.
I carry a portable jump start box now. It was cheaper than a replacement battery, and I can usually bail myself out of trouble.
I carry a portable jump start box now. It was cheaper than a replacement battery, and I can usually bail myself out of trouble.
Originally Posted By: ecotourist
Here's what I do:
Hook the batteries together as usual.
Run the donor car for a few minutes to charge up the recipient battery a little.
Turn off the donor car, but leave the batteries connected.
Start the recipient car, and take off the donor car's negative clamp as soon as it starts, then the positive.
Done.
Neither car is running while hooked up to another running car. I assume that would reduce the risk of damage to either car. And the risk of explosion is reduced because there is no sparking near the recipient battery while it's charging fast (ie when its producing a lot of hydrogen).
Thats basically what i do, with one added step. I turn off the switch on the donor car before unhooking the cables. Protects my alternator if something gets shorted or fumbled.
Here's what I do:
Hook the batteries together as usual.
Run the donor car for a few minutes to charge up the recipient battery a little.
Turn off the donor car, but leave the batteries connected.
Start the recipient car, and take off the donor car's negative clamp as soon as it starts, then the positive.
Done.
Neither car is running while hooked up to another running car. I assume that would reduce the risk of damage to either car. And the risk of explosion is reduced because there is no sparking near the recipient battery while it's charging fast (ie when its producing a lot of hydrogen).
Thats basically what i do, with one added step. I turn off the switch on the donor car before unhooking the cables. Protects my alternator if something gets shorted or fumbled.
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The thing I've always wondered about is why they always want that last connection to be connected to the engine block vs just connecting it to the negative post.
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Thats basically what i do, with one added step. I turn off the switch on the donor car before unhooking the cables. Protects my alternator if something gets shorted or fumbled.
What switch are you referring to?
Thats basically what i do, with one added step. I turn off the switch on the donor car before unhooking the cables. Protects my alternator if something gets shorted or fumbled.
What switch are you referring to?
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Thats basically what i do, with one added step. I turn off the switch on the donor car before unhooking the cables. Protects my alternator if something gets shorted or fumbled.
What switch are you referring to?
Ignition switch
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Thats basically what i do, with one added step. I turn off the switch on the donor car before unhooking the cables. Protects my alternator if something gets shorted or fumbled.
What switch are you referring to?
Ignition switch
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
The thing I've always wondered about is why they always want that last connection to be connected to the engine block vs just connecting it to the negative post.
If there is a chance of spark it is when the second wire is connected. By making this second connection be negative wire to chassis, you make the possible spark happen on the chassis away from the battery where hydrogen gas was possibly generated.
That's the only reason.
The thing I've always wondered about is why they always want that last connection to be connected to the engine block vs just connecting it to the negative post.
If there is a chance of spark it is when the second wire is connected. By making this second connection be negative wire to chassis, you make the possible spark happen on the chassis away from the battery where hydrogen gas was possibly generated.
That's the only reason.
Well that's one plus for a Jump-pak rather than jumper cables.
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